Mailbag: He had great vision

Although I never met Don Williamson, he provided our family with a gift that we will cherish the rest of our lives. In 1975 I acquired the Pearl Street house, an architectural masterpiece, from Mark Engelman, late of Laguna Beach. Williamson designed this home for Engelman in 1958.

It is a hyperbolic parabaloid, similar to the structure at the Festival grounds but made of wood instead of concrete. The soaring roof, open space, and absence of supporting walls has been a source of awe and wonder for all who have visited. The lot upon which it rests was selected for Engelman by Fred Lang (park named for him) also late of Laguna Beach and an internationally known landscape architect and conservationist. This wondrous home has been a source of peace, comfort, and serenity for me, my wife, and daughters. We will ever be grateful for his vision. RIP Don Williamson.

David Law

Laguna Beach

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Neighbor concerns were taken into account

I wanted to take the opportunity to respond to your story from Aug 5, [[“Resident: ‘Green’ can’t trump views�] which I feel mischaracterizes one of our solar projects on Caribbean Way.

By introduction, SolarCity is the largest solar power installer in Orange County, with 40+ employees based in its Santa Ana office. We are also the largest residential solar installer in the United States, with 700 employees in five states, and more than 8,000 customers. Our Orange County office has completed or undertaken more than 500 projects since 2007, and more than 40 in the communities surrounding Laguna Beach.

The article mischaracterizes the approval process for solar projects in Laguna Beach. The city does have the opportunity to review and approve all solar projects. The city reviewed and approved the plans for the project on Caribbean Way before it was built, and also inspected the completed installation and approved it a second time.

The article referenced a mechanical engineer who says an alternate solution could optimize the solar panel system without affecting the neighbor’s view. SolarCity has in-house licensed engineers who specialize in solar design, and while we are certainly open to creative solutions, we believe that any good design is a series of trade-offs. Our designs have to meet stringent mechanical and electrical safety standards as well as take into account constraints with the existing roof, weather conditions (including wind uplift and seismic) and required fire setbacks. Aesthetics are always important in our designs but certainly not the only design consideration which affects the final product. Form fits function and I have designed enough systems to know that modules require air flow beneath them to optimize performance. The tilt of the array is not the only consideration in optimizing performance.

The article is largely based on the complaints of our customer Jim Mouradick’s neighbor. It is our understanding that Mouradick invited [the neighbor] to participate in the planning/design process, but she refused.

Despite her refusal to participate in the design process, we attempted to anticipate her concerns in the design of Mouradick’s solar system. For example, the optimal tilt of Mouradick’s solar arrays to produce the maximum amount of electricity would have been 20 degrees. As a compromise, we decided to decrease the arrays to 10 degrees (the article incorrectly implies that the panels are tilted at 15 degrees or “percent�), sacrificing some electricity production but reducing the height of the panels from the roof. Some tilt is required to prevent debris from collecting on the panels, which would further reduce production. In this particular case, the best code compliant method for attaching to the specific engineered wood joist/rafters and flashing the flat tar and gravel roof required us to raise the solar panel supports off the roof a few inches more than usual. Even so, the resulting installation is only 26 inches in height from top to bottom.

We do not believe that Mouradick’s solar installation will diminish the neighbor’s property value. Though the photo that accompanied the article was clearly intended to make the system look like it was obscuring the resident’s view, it also demonstrates that from that point of view, even if the solar system was not in place, the ocean would scarcely be visible from the window.

We have installed two other systems on the same street to the great satisfaction of those customers, and many more in the surrounding communities. SolarCity makes every attempt to take the concerns of communities into consideration in the planning and execution of projects, and we believe we have done so in this case. In the end, we designed and installed a system which was reviewed, approved and accepted by the city and our customer. We also compromised the performance of the system by lowering the tilt to 10 degrees.

Solar power can reduce our dependence on polluting power sources and generally promote a cleaner environment. Laguna Beach residents have embraced solar enthusiastically, and we expect that to continue into the future. We appreciate the opportunity to comment on this issue, and we will continue to be a responsible member of the Laguna Beach business community for many years to come.

Jim Cahill

Los Angeles

[Editors note: Jim Cahill is Regional Operations Director, Southern California for SolarCity.]

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Modifications could reduce view impact

I am a local solar contractor and have been in Laguna Beach for more than 30 years. The article concerning solar systems and their potential impact on views is of great importance to all of us in the city. It is unsettling to read supposed “facts� that are inaccurate concerning module orientation with efficiency loss or gains. To reduce the visual impact of the solar installation, SolarCity could have installed the modules in a landscape configuration rather than a portrait configuration. While this may have required an additional amount of hardware, the results would have reduced the visual impact.

When we design systems we always take aesthetics into consideration. It is important to understand that these installations not only function well, but look attractive without being obtrusive and unsightly to the community. It would certainly be a shame to discourage our community from moving forward toward a broader use of clean, renewable energy.

Phil Lawes

Laguna Beach

[Phil Lawes is president of Insoltech Solar]

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The article in this week’s Coastline Pilot [“Resident: ‘Green’ can’t trump views�] raises an important issue: Should (or may) the Design Review Board consider plans, or even the potential, for the installation of solar panels in evaluating roof heights and view issue on new construction and major remodels? Also to be considered is whether the applicable federal legislation limits or affects the DRB’s ability to act.

Gene Gratz

Laguna Beach

[Gene Gratz is former vice-chairman of the Laguna Beach Design Review Task Force.]

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For years, cleanup on Aliso Beach, Treasure Island and Goff Island has challenged us all, especially since the county would only handle trash and cleanup south of Aliso Creek, but not north (which is their responsibility up to about the “stilt� house area.). We suffered from a dearth of trash cans and a barrage of trash on the county’s part of Treasure Island/Aliso Beach (just north of the creek). One would literally have to walk clear up to the lifeguard station to throw anything away. Most people did not. Finally, one persistent neighbor convinced the county to add three trash cans (thank you, Marilyn). Beach cleanup success was seemingly at hand.

That very same day, however, three trash cans on the Montage’s side of Treasure Island and three more on Goff Island disappeared and have not been replaced. For several weeks now, only a single trash can and recycle bin at the bottom of the ramp now cover the entire Treasure Island tide pool area and beach (down to the “stilt� house). Goff Island and Middles Beach have only one can as well. These are critical tide pool areas and busy beaches, in the middle of summer, when trash cans are most needed. Where have all the trash cans gone?

When asked, the Montage cleanup group stated that they bring trash cans down daily and remove them in the evening. This is just not the case. Many of us have been there at all times of the day, and no other trash cans are in evidence. It appears that staff is coming down midday with trash bags and picking up, but this is totally ineffective since that beach has heavy evening, night and pre 9 a.m. use. Too much trash is now again being swept away with our heavy tides, or left to fester, adding to bacterial conditions and attracting predatory animals. Granted, trash pickup is a daunting task, but it is an essential one for our beaches.

Whoever’s responsibility this is (the city’s, the Montage’s), please do whatever it takes and clean up your act. The present plan I not working. Replace the critical missing trash receptacles.

Joanne Sutch

Laguna Beach

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Illegal immigration costly to U.S.

When reading and listening to the news, I find that a huge majority of crimes are most probably committed by illegal immigrants. After an illegal is deported to their country, they will soon return to the U.S.A.

The cost to the U.S.A. taxpayers is staggering to enforce and jail these illegals. The politicians should address this problem.

There is another problem with the ACLU. Suits are filed as discrimination to the illegals [against laws] that ban people from hiring or renting to illegals. Most of the drugs are imported by the Mexican drug rings. Hail to Arizona!

Ross B. Wankier

Laguna Beach

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I became a member of the Laguna Beach Film Society last fall. The subsequent monthly film sessions at our local theater have been, in turn, thought-provoking, charming, occasionally obtuse, fabulous but always original.

Hats off to Keiko Beatie, who selects the films for those of us who love an off-beat, but well done movie. The most recent film, “Mao’s Last Dancer,� was incredible and a West Coast premiere. We are fortunate to have these films in our community, and I encourage film lovers to join the organization. Those of us who miss the flicks at the old Port and Balboa theatres can once again experience the pleasures of foreign and domestic independent films here in town.

For more information about the Laguna Beach Film Society, contact JoAnne Story at the Laguna Art Museum (949) 494-8971 ext. 201.

Carole Zavala

Laguna Beach